Spring may bring colorful flowers and beautiful green grass, but it also brings what is commonly referred to as a pain in the rear, road construction.

Several road projects will be getting underway in and around North Platte in the coming week.

On April 14, construction will begin at the junction of Highway 30 and L79G, just east of North Platte, to mile marker 182.

The Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) says the 10-day project will include milling two inches off the existing shoulders and replacing them with new asphalt, and adding shoulder rumblestrips.

During the construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane which will be controlled by flaggers during the daytime hours.

Also starting on the 14th, construction will begin on the South Platte River Bridges in North Platte on Highway 83.

The project will include:

• Removal and replacement of pavement approaches, bridge rail and guardrail on both bridges.
• Repair and overlay of the bridge deck.
• Reconstruction of the sidewalk and replacement of the fence and sidewalk of the southbound bridge.
• Removal and replacement of the existing bridge deck on the northbound bridge.

NDOR says traffic will be reduced to a 10′ width restriction on both bridges with one lane traffic being maintained throughout the duration of the construction.

During Phase 1, pedestrian traffic will not be allowed to cross either the north or southbound bridge.  However, during Phase 2, pedestrian traffic will be allowed to resume on the southbound bridge.

Officials say delays should be expected and motorists should consider an alternate route.

The project is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2014.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south in the evening.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Breezy, with a west wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind 9 to 18 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 7 to 14 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
• Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71.

(AP) — Authorities say speed was a factor in a fatal crash in southwest Nebraska.

Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller says 18-year-old Christopher Kirby, of Benkelman, was killed Friday in a single-vehicle rollover crash on a highway near Enders.

Kirby was driving the vehicle when it went off the right shoulder. Mueller says Kirby overcorrected and lost control of the car. It rolled several times.

Kirby was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Lincoln man who led Troopers on a high-speed chase in Lincoln County and forced the lockdown of Sutherland Schools has been sentenced to jail.

Dustin Lankster, 31, appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.

According to prosecutors, a Nebraska State Patrol Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2002 Saturn, driven by Lankster, on the afternoon of November 14th.

As the Trooper approached the vehicle, Lankster took off and led the Trooper on a pursuit into the Village of Sutherland.

Prosecutors say Lankster drove through a fence and abandoned the vehicle.

A Code Red emergency alert was issued for Sutherland, and the school was placed on lockdown.

Lankster was eventually located behind a residence and arrested.

Troopers found a female, April Crowley, and a five-year-old child still in the vehicle.

Judge Donald Rowlands sentenced Lankster to 360 days in jail on charges of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, 1st offense driving under the influence and misdemeanor child abuse.

Lankster had pleaded guilty to the charges after making a plea deal with prosecutors.

He was given credit for 145 days already served in jail.

A North Platte man accused of sexually assaulting two 15-year-old girls pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

Johnathon Hernandez, 21, appeared in Lincoln County District Court for arraignment on Monday.

In February, North Platte Police were contacted by the parents of a 15-year-old girl who claimed Hernandez had sexually assaulted her.

Police launched an investigation , and determined that Hernandez had actually assaulted two teens on the evening of February 14, and again on the afternoon of February 15.

Prosecutors say one of the victims required medical treatment as a result of the assault.

Hernandez is charged with four counts of 1st degree sexual assault of a child.

He will back in court for a status hearing on May 12.

A North Platte man who beat his girlfriend with a wooden dowel and threw a knife at her, has been sentenced to 364 days in jail.

Darrell Lewis, 22, appeared in Lincoln County District Court for sentencing on Monday, after pleading guilty to felony terroristic threats and 3rd degree domestic assault.

According to police, officers responded to an assault in the 1100 block of East 11th Street last December.

Lewis’ 24-year-old girlfriend told officers that Lewis had struck her in the head and arms with a large wooden dowel multiple times during an argument.

She said Lewis had also used a 8” kitchen knife to stab her personal belongings before throwing it at her.

Prior to sentencing, Lewis’ attorney, Amanda Speichert, asked judge Birch to sentence him to county jail time.  She argued that this was Lewis’ first felony charge, and he had saved the state the time and expense of a trial by pleading guilty to the charges.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Birch noted the fact that this was Lewis’ first felony, and that he had accepted responsibility for his actions.

Judge Birch said that while probation wasn’t an appropriate sentence, neither was time in the State Pen.

Lewis was given credit for 117 days already served in jail.

 

 

(AP) — Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers isn’t done yet with his fight to outlaw mountain lion hunting.

Chambers on Monday attached his proposal to at least 11 other bills that are listed on the Legislature’s agenda. The longtime senator has twice tried to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto, but both attempts failed.

Heineman argued in his veto message that state wildlife officials should have the power to regulate the mountain lion population through a controlled hunting season.

Chambers has said mountain lions are “shy, reclusive, unoffending animals,” and their population in Nebraska is so small that management isn’t necessary.

Nebraska approved its mountain lion hunting season in 2012. Mountain lions are native to Nebraska, but were virtually wiped out by early settlers.

(AP) — A bill that would bar Nebraska employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation is still facing a filibuster.

Lawmakers resumed debate Monday on the measure by Sen. Danielle Conrad, of Lincoln. Conrad says the bill seeks to protect workers from being fired because of their sexual or gender preferences.

The proposal advanced by the Judiciary Committee last month would apply to all public employees, government contractors, and private businesses with 15 or more workers. Religious organizations and colleges would be exempt.

Lawmakers began debating the bill on Thursday, before adjourning for the weekend. A group of conservative lawmakers is trying to kill the bill, saying it could expose businesses to lawsuits.

Supporters will try to end the debate and force a vote on Monday evening.

(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman has vetoed a bill that would require Nebraska to apply for federal funding for in-home care services for the elderly.

The governor argues in his veto letter that while the bill’s goal is laudable, it would shift millions of dollars in expenses onto state government.

The bill by Sen. Kate Bolz, of Lincoln, would have Nebraska spend $8.2 million to qualify for about $36.5 million in federal dollars over the next two fiscal years. Bolz says it will reduce Nebraska’s long-term Medicaid expenses, because in-home care costs less than nursing home care. Bolz filed a motion Monday to override the veto.

Heineman says Nebraska’s costs would increase by $6 million after September 2015, and the bill is a form of expanded Medicaid.

(AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 435,000 cars to fix rusting frame parts or faulty seats.

The biggest of the two recalls covers nearly 386,000 Ford Escapes from the 2001 through 2004 model years. Ford says the subframes can rust, allowing a control arm to separate and hamper steering control. Ford is aware of one crash but no injuries linked to the problem.

The SUVs were originally sold or registered in 20 states and Washington, D.C., where salt is used to clear snow and ice from roads. Seven Canadian provinces also are included.

Dealers will install a reinforcement brace.

The second recall covers 49,000 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Ford Escape and C-MAX vehicles from 2013 and 2014. Dealers will replace seat back frames that weren’t welded properly.